Cajuns lose to better Longhorns in tough road test

.@J_Whitt3 will not be denied 🙌@CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/MuPqIzMYbM

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 4, 2021

The difference in positions in the preseason rankings was as narrow as possible.

Texas entered its season opener with Louisiana ranked No. 21 while the Ragin’ Cajuns of Lafayette were No. 23.

Despite the sliver of difference in rankings, the perception gap was far wider as most casual observers were all in on the Longhorns winning over an upstart interloper in the national rankings by a long margin.

It was a chance to change the perception and to make a statement.

Texas had other ideas.

The Longhorns spotted UL a 3-0 lead before taking control in a 38-18 victory at Austin Saturday.

It was not a beat-down, by any means, but you never had the feeling that Louisiana could or would win throughout the game.

Midway through the first quarter, the Cajuns took the lead, driving 42 yards in eight plays, taking 4:16 to do so with Kenneth Almendares booting a 37-yard field goal to make it 3-0 with 8:16 to play in the opening quarter.

Texas answered to take a 7-3 lead, with Hudson Card hitting Bijan Robinson with an 18-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-3 Longhorns with 2:25 to play in the opening quarter. Robinson was wide open in the left flat, uncovered. The drive covered 70 yards in 11 plays, taking 5:51 off the clock.

Late in the half, Texas extended the lead to 14-3 on a six-yard touchdown pass from Card to Cade Brewer. The drive took a lot out of the Louisiana defense as Texas went 62 yards in 14 plays, taking 7:45 off the clock, over half of the second quarter.

After being stymied for most of the second quarter, UL drove 44 yards in nine plays and Almendares kicked a 48-yard field goal on the final play of the half to cut the deficit to 14-6.

Texas finished the half with 216 yards to 124 for the Cajuns, who were 0-for-5 on third down conversions. Texas had the ball for 18:21 to just 11:39 for UL.

The Longhorns re-established total control to start the second half, taking the kickoff and driving 65 yards in eight plays, taking 3:12 off the clock with Robinson scoring on a seven-yard run to make it 21-6 with 11:48 to play in the quarter. The no-huddle approach kept the Cajuns on their heels.

Louisiana finally got the big drive it needed, going 79 yards in 12 plays, taking 5:58 off the clock with Chris Smith racing right for 21 yards and a score to make it 21-12 with 5:50 to play in the third quarter. Unfortunately, the extra point was blocked, leaving it a two-possession game.

Knowing his team needed a lift, a game-changing, momentum-gaining play, Billy Napier then elected to gamble with a middle onside-kick but it failed as Texas recovered, giving the Longhorns a short field, and they took total advantage. Texas drove 79 yards in 12 plays, taking 5:58 off the clock with scoring standing up on a three-yard touchdown to make it 28-12 with 2:43 to play in the third quarter.

Texas put the game away early in the fourth quarter as reserve quarterback Casey Thompson hit Jordan Whittington on a 14-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-12 with 12:24 to play in the game. The drive covered 83 yards in 10 plays, taking 3:46 off the clock.

The Cajuns responded as Levi Lewis connected with Kyren Lacy, who made a terrific move, made a tackler miss and scored from 19 yards out to make it 35-18 with 9:31 to play in the game. The pass attempt for the two-point conversion failed. The drive covered 75 yards in nine plays, taking 2:53 off the clock.

The Longhorns distanced themselves further as Cameron Dicker connected on a 49-yard field goal to make it 38-18 with 6:16 to play in the game.

It was a case of Texas simply having the better, deeper team.

The Ragin’ Cajuns could not convert most of the game on third down (4-of-13) and could not get off the field on defense on third down (10-of-15 for Texas).

The Longhorns controlled the game and that left the Louisiana defense on the field too long as Texas had the ball for 33:13 to 26:47 for the Cajuns, who had the only turnover of the game.

Texas won at the line-of-scrimmage, limiting Louisiana to just 76 yards rushing while rushing for 170 yards of their own.

Levi Lewis was 28-of-40 for 282 yards and a touchdown but was not a factor with his feet, as he usually is, rushing for just 19 yards on six carries.

Louisiana steps down in class to face FCS Nicholls at home next Saturday.

The loss was disappointing but it is not a season-killer, by any standard.

The Cajuns are a good team, poised for another good season.